Tuesday, June 3, 2014
4 Surprising Places to Find Deals on Health Care
4 Surprising Places to Find Deals on Health Care
by Linsey
Knerl on 30 May 2014
In a time when everything can be
purchased online, finding deals that keep you healthy is becoming easier and
more affordable. There are a number of sites available for purchasing deals in
health care. Here are a few that you should check out if you are in the market
to save on your medical expenses, too. (See also: Health
Care Price Lists: A Short Guide)
1. Groupon
You'll find a variety of deals on Groupon. From dental cleanings to cosmetic procedures
and eye exams to chiropractic services, Groupon's list of health care deals
continues to grow.
You can feel comfortable buying from
Groupon with their Groupon Promise.
This promise states that if you are "are disappointed by your experience,
[they'll] work with you to make it right or give you a refund." They will
also honor refunds when "a business closes permanently, an event is
canceled or rescheduled, or a business refuses to accept your unredeemed
Groupon voucher."
2. LivingSocial
While the deals aren't as frequent on LivingSocial as with Groupon,
they can be found. The site operates much the same way as Groupon does. You pay
for a voucher that is sent to your email. You print that voucher, make your
appointment, and show your voucher at the time of service. The deal sites will
reimburse the business whatever agreed upon amount, so you will have nothing to
pay at the time of service unless you receive extra services above and beyond
what your voucher is for.
Be sure to read the fine print before
you purchase to avoid extra expenses that you did not anticipate. With the
email I received for an eye exam and purchase of glasses, I would have received
the exam and $50 credit towards the purchase of glasses. Closer inspection of
the fine print stated that it was for any glasses over a certain price range, which was more than I'd normally
spend on glasses.
3. DealWell
If you live in Chicago, Wichita,
Kansas, or the Austin and Dallas/Fort Worth areas of Texas, you can use DealWell to save money on health care, specifically imaging services such
as MRIs, CT scans, ultrasounds, x-rays, and similar procedures. DealWell offers
shoppers a retail price which you can buy immediately, or you can bid a
different price. You'll find out within just a few seconds if your bid is
acceptable and — if it is — you'll have six minutes to purchase that deal. Once
it has been confirmed, you print off a certificate and contact the business you
purchased the deal from.
The potential is there to save hundreds of dollars on imaging
services with DealWell. They have plans to grow their site to other cities
across the United States, so check back with them frequently.
4. MediBid
There now exists a site that brings eBay type bidding to health
care. MediBid gives doctors the opportunity to bid on the cost of the procedure
you may need done. The patient pays a fee ($25 for making one medical request
or you can pay a $4.99 per month fee if you plan to make multiple requests for
procedures) and provides a detailed list of their concerns or ailments. The
doctors place a offer for how much they would charge for their service.
The patient is responsible for
researching the doctors before accepting any bids. However, once you have done
the research, you can save yourself a great deal of money. In the case of one
man, MediBid
saved him $50,000 on hip replacement surgery.
Other Resources
Regardless of the site you use, if
you want to make sure you are getting a good deal, you can use sites like Fair Health or Healthcare Bluebook to check the prices of the services and procedures you are
interested in receiving. These sites can provide you the average cost of most
medical procedures in your area.
As with all deals and anything related to your health, practice
due diligence before spending money or agreeing to a medical procedure.
Monday, June 2, 2014
Free Webinars for Older Adults and their Caregivers
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This 3-part series is designed to educate adults about abuse and individual rights. We recommend signing up for all three sessions, but it is not required. Click the links for more information or to register. If you would like to attend multiple sessions, you must sign up for each one individually.
Part 1: Financial Abuse
June 11, 2014
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Click here to register
This session is a safety guide on how to prevent and handle financial abuse to one's money and personal belongings. The webinar is designed to educate individuals about abuse and their rights, including their right to safety, their right to speak out, and their right to get help.
Part 2: Neglect and Withholding Support
June 18, 2014
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Click here to register
This session is a safety guide on how to prevent and handle situations where individuals are neglected or prevented from garnering the support they deserve. The webinar is designed to educate individuals about abuse and their rights, including their right to safety, their right to speak out, and their right to get help.
Part 3: Physical, Verbal, and Sexual Abuse
June 25, 2014
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Click here to register
This session is a safety guide focused on preventing and handling situations situations where someone may be physically, verbally, or sexually abused. The webinar is designed to educate individuals about abuse and their rights, including their right to safety, their right to speak out, and their right to get help.
Connection information will be emailed prior to the webinar. If you do not receive a confirmation email within 5 minutes of registering, please email sarah@olderpa.org and let us know. If you do not receive the confirmation email, you may not receive the connection information. We will work to ensure that you receive email from us.
Getting Over Retirement Guilt
5 Ways to Eat Your Greens
5 Ways to Eat Your Greens
Many of us know that one of the
healthiest dietary choices we can make is adding a generous portion of greens
to our meals. Luckily, greens can be used in a variety of different ways – far
beyond serving as a traditional salad base.
The term ‘greens’ is used rather
loosely, but usually refers to leafy greens spanning the brassica (cabbage) and
chenopod families. All of these greens are rich in numerous vitamins, minerals
and antioxidants, which support optimal health and reduce the risk of many
diseases.
Brassica greens, also known as
cruciferous greens, include arugula, bok choy, collard greens, kale, mustard
greens and watercress. These greens are high in vitamins A, C and K, plus
fiber, folate and protein, among many other nutrients. They also contain
omega-3 fatty acids, and compounds known as glucosinolates, which have been
linked to potent anti-carcinogenic qualities.
Greens in the chenopod family
include spinach, Swiss chard and beet greens. Greens in this family are high in
vitamins A, C, E and K, and are also a good source of the minerals selenium and
zinc.
The antioxidant compounds found in chenopod greens, including carotenoids,
have been linked to promoting bone health, as well as to combating aggressive
forms of prostate cancer.With all of the nutrients that greens provide, there’s no question that they should feature on the menu as often as possible. The following are five delicious ways to enjoy your greens:
Sautees
Greens taste great when prepared simply by quickly sauteing to desired consistency in organic coconut oil or grass-fed butter, topped with sea salt. When prepared this way, sturdier greens like kale and collard greens will maintain their structure better, while spinach and arugula will become softer.
Sauteed greens make a delicious side dish with just a bit of sea salt, but if you’d like to add some extra flavors and textures, sprinkle on some chopped, raw nuts or add some dried cherries or cranberries. Experiment with the spices of your choice to find a flavor you love.
Burrito wraps
When constructing a burrito, who needs a tortilla when you’ve got a fresh, crisp Swiss chard leaf? While many people are familiar with lettuce wraps, Swiss chard packs a greater nutritional punch.
Simply spoon your favorite burrito ingredients (chicken, beef, sauteed vegetables, beans, rice, fresh salsa, etc.) on a large Swiss chard leaf (making sure not to overfill), roll, and enjoy!
Involtini
This gourmet-sounding word is simply Italian for a small bite with a wrapping surrounding a filling. There are so many ways to incorporate greens into this. One idea is to take a spinach or arugula leaf, place a small piece of chicken, thinly-sliced fish, falafel and/or cheese on top, wrap each piece, and close with a toothpick.
Alternately, you could do the inverse: chop up the greens of your choice, mix with fresh ricotta cheese, and wrap in thin slices of meat, cheese or grilled eggplant, using toothpicks to secure if needed. Makes great appetizers.
Chips
Sturdier greens, such as kale and collard greens, make wonderful chips. It’s as easy as chopping into chip-sized pieces, tossing in organic coconut oil (making sure to strain excess oil), sprinkling with sea salt and your favorite seasonings, and baking at 325 degrees F to desired crispness (about 15 minutes).
You can also make kale and collard chips in the dehydrator. This preparation method maintains optimal antioxidant content. For a great dehydrated kale chip recipe, check out our recent article with recipe included.
Smoothies
An excellent and simple way to get your greens is by simply tossing a handful of raw greens of your choice into your favorite smoothie. There are a virtually endless amount of ways to mix and match various greens into delicious smoothies. For one yummy option, start with a base of organic yogurt with live cultures, add a banana, a few slices of apple or pear, and a handful of spinach. Simply blend and serve.
-The Alternative Daily
9 Uses for Baking Soda that May Surprise You
9 Uses for Baking Soda that May Surprise You
Did you know that you go to battle
each day against thousands of environmental pollutants that lurk not only in
our air, our water and our soil, but also in the very products that we trust to
keep our homes and bodies clean, moisturized and fresh?
Toxic personal care products
The Environmental Working Group
(EWG) estimates that 25 percent of women use more than 15 products each day
that contain over 126 different ingredients, with as many as one in five being
carcinogenic.
As of today, our government does not
require health studies or any pre-market testing of the chemicals in personal
care products, even though we are ‘eating’ them on a daily basis. According to
the Office of Cosmetics and Colors at the FDA, a cosmetic manufacturer can use
almost any raw material in the making of a product without approval.
In an investigation of ingredients
in 23,000 products, the EWG found that nearly one in every 30 products that was
sold in the United States failed to meet one or more of the industry or
governmental standards set by other countries.
In fact, over 400 products sold in our country contain dangerous chemicals
that other countries do not allow. They also found 400 other products
containing ingredients that the industry itself has deemed unsafe when used as
directed on the label.A study published in The FASEB Journal adds further evidence to what many people skeptical of the chemicals and pollutants swarming our modern world have long suspected: there really are no ‘safe’ levels of dangerous substances, especially in combination.
Household cleaners dangerous as well
According to the National Research Council, “less than 20 percent of chemicals in everyday use have been tested for acute effects and less than 10 percent have been tested for chronic, reproductive or mutagenic effects.”
The Toxic Substances Control Act (TCSA) was passed by Congress about 30 years ago, however, the testing of chemical compounds is very limited. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has only tested about 200 of the 80,000 chemicals that are found in home products, including cleaners.
The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reports that about one third of substances used by the fragrance industry are toxic. Moreover, fragrance manufacturers do not have to list the ingredients that they use on labels, as they are considered ‘trade secrets. ‘For this reason, be suspect of anything labeled ‘fragrance.’
According to the American Lung Association, “household cleaning agents that contain potentially harmful substances that contribute to indoor air pollution are wide-reaching and diverse.” They also explain that household cleaners can cause nausea, dizziness, allergic reactions, eye and skin irritation and respiratory problems, and have even been linked to some cancers.
A number of studies, including research published by the Washington Toxics Coalition, states that many conventional cleaning products may irritate the lungs, burn the eyes and skin, worsen asthma symptoms or even cause death.
Statistics compiled by the American Association of Poison Control Centers have found that 1.25 million children under age six are unintentionally poisoned every year by common household products.
Carpet, oven and other cleaners may contain toluene, chloride, formaldehyde, methylene, ethylene glycol, formaldehyde and nitrobenzene, and the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in these cleaners have been linked to asthma in children. Furthermore, a number of household cleaning products have been linked by some studies to leukemia in children.
According to the European Respiratory Journal, pregnant women who use household cleaners may be putting their children at a higher risk of developing asthma. The Environmental Working Group has found 232 different industrial chemicals and pollutants in the umbilical cord blood of newborn babies.
Baking soda to the rescue
Not only can baking soda replace many harsh household products, but it also deserves some space in your cosmetic bag. Using baking soda in place of some dangerous commercial products is a great way not only to stay toxin-free, but also a way to help reduce environmental toxins.
What exactly is baking soda?
Many of you may have been using baking soda around your home for years without ever even knowing what it is. We did a little digging to uncover the mystery. Turns out that sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) is a chemical salt that, in its natural form, is the mineral nahcolite. Baking soda can react as both an acid and a base, although in an aqueous solution it is a bit on the alkaline side.
Pure nahcolite is found in abundance in the Green River Basin which cuts through several states in the central part of our country. A number of commercial companies mine nahcolite directly from the ground and sell it as a raw product, while others heat and treat it with chemicals and then sell it.
Either way, both methods produce an environmentally friendly product. The only caution we have for consumers is to stick to an aluminum-free brand of baking soda when possible.
Sodium bicarbonate helps to regulate pH. It keeps substances from being too acidic or too alkaline. Its ability to neutralize the pH of any substance it comes in contact with makes it highly effective for so many things. Baking soda can also help keep pH balance steady – a process known as buffering.
It is both the neutralizing and buffering capabilities of baking soda that allows it to work so well on acidic odors like those found in your refrigerator, and also keep your pH neutral like it does in the laundry water to boost the power of detergent.
Here are nine ways you can put baking soda to work for you today:
Exfoliate
Baking soda mixed with a little warm water is an excellent exfoliator for the face and other parts of the body. The baking soda will smooth the skin, remove dead skin cells and leave your skin feeling fresh and vibrant. You can even dab a little paste on acne spots. It will help to draw out toxins and reduce redness.
Relieve gout
Gout is a very painful and uncomfortable condition that is caused by uric acid that is overproduced by the body until it builds up to very high levels and settles in the joints. This causes painful swelling and inflammation. Mix two tablespoons of fresh lemon juice with a teaspoon of baking soda and drink up! The baking soda will alkalinize the urine and neutralize the uric acid.
Wash fruits and vegetables
Baking soda is a safe way to remove dirt and residue from fresh fruit and vegetables. Sprinkle a little on a clean sponge, scrub and rinse.
Rid hair of build-up
If you use a lot of product in your hair and want the true “squeaky clean” feel, try baking soda. Combine one tablespoon of baking soda with one cup of warm water and apply to damp hair. Comb through and rinse well.
Clean coffee and tea pots
To remove tea and coffee stains and reduce bitter taste left in mugs, use a solution of ¼ cup baking soda and 1 quart warm water. Some stubborn stains may require overnight soaking in the solution or some scrubbing with a soft sponge. Either way, you are left with a sparkling clean coffee pot and mugs.
Clean floors
To remove dirt and grime without scratching no-wax and tile floors, mix ½ cup baking soda in a bucket with warm water and scrub. Rinse clean after scrubbing. To remove scuff marks, put a little baking soda on a damp sponge, scrub lightly and rinse.
Deodorize drains
Nothing neutralizes odors better than baking soda. To keep your tub and sink drains smelling fresh, pour ½ cup of baking soda down the drain while running some warm tap water down the drain. You can also pour some down your garbage disposal and run some warm water while running your disposal. Add a little baking soda to your dishwashing detergent to help fight stubborn stains and bacteria.
Ease itchiness and swelling
Skip the commercial creams and lotions and try baking soda for your itchy or irritated skin. You can ease uncomfortable itchiness and swelling from poison ivy or oak, as well as bug bites, with a little baking soda. Make a paste with a little baking soda and water and apply to the irritated area. This will work for bee stings and chicken pox as well.
Car cleaner
Why pay a whole lot of money for a variety of different products to clean your car when all you need is a box of baking soda? You can use baking soda to clean the lights, windows, tires, floor mats, vinyl seats and more without fear of scratch marks. Simply mix ¼ cup baking soda in 1 quart of warm water and apply with a clean soft rag or sponge. For really difficult stains, use a soft brush.
The next time you are at the store and you pass the baking soda, think twice. It may be inexpensive and seemingly unworthy, but in reality, baking soda is a wise, environmentally friendly and healthy thing to stock up on.
-The Alternative Daily
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